Those Eurocrats in Brussells have a lot to answer for…
…They banned us from selling wonky carrots, blacklisted our imperial units, and now threaten us with death for using old fashioned light bulbs.
But if there’s one thing that they could have kept to themselves, then it’s the now notorious January transfer window which we are now suffering for an eighth year. (I’m sure FIFA had something to do with it too!)
Not only does this window halve productivity in the workplace among 90% of all heterosexual males as we check the gossip columns every 10 seconds, but it leads to hysteria, ridiculous levels of hype and stress. I suppose you can call it a second Christmas, but without the present you really want.
In short, it pisses me off. Clubs can charge utterly preposterous fees for players that they don’t want, solely because it is the transfer window and we won’t get the chance again until August.
I can see it now. Big Mick is told by Martin O’Neill that Craig Gardner will cost £3 million. Mick will ask O’Neill if he has been smoking crack cocaine, until O’Neill screams: “Oh come on, it’s the January transfer window!” (in Harry Enfield Christmas style delivery)
Speaking of £3 million, isn’t that the princely sum that our manager has to spend this window? And hasn’t our chairman squeeked that 17th would be a failure this season? Over to you then Mick!
For many clubs, the transfer window passes as quietly as a Liberal Democrat party conference, when all their fans want a signing of Monster Raving Loony proportions. I know we all do.
And thereby lies the rub. If rumours are to be believed and we do only have a fistful of dollars to do business with, then how do you reconcile the shortfall with Morgan’s 17th placed warning?
With Portsmouth on the brink of collapse, Burnley about to lose Coyle and Hull being Hull, we have a golden opportunity to retain our Premier League status, and even make Morgan happy with a finish above our expectations. (Let’s not forget Bolton, Stoke and West Ham.) But it requires him to put his money where those pursed lips of his are.
If he does, then a month of angst and anxiety will be worth it. If not, then Morgan’s silence really will be deafening for Mick McCarthy.
· For what it’s worth, I want Jermaine Beckford, only more so than all those weeks ago when I first suggested it. We lack any real pace up front, and he has it in abundance. Why not?
Victor Moses at Palace would appear too expensive for us, particularly with Barcelona showing an interest! And we surely need a right winger and centre half?
We shall wait and see.
Beckford is a decent shout Ben, but I don’t think Mick will go for him.
Like a few others, I’d like to see us be bold and go for someone like Adam Johnson from Boro’, but whether they’d sell and whether he’d want to come to another club that could end up in the Championship next year are debatable.
Someone mentioned Kris Commons a few weeks ago and I can’t get that out of my head. Whether we’d want him or not, I can certainly see Mick going for him to plug the hole on the right side of midfield.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a player arrive from abroad too. I see we’re being linked with a winger called Fode Mansare from Toulouse. Might not be a bad idea to take an educated gamble on another Jonny Foreigner, particularly if the English market is slow moving.
Collins has been shipped out so maybe that’s paved the way for another center back to come in. Kilgallon from Sheffield United could well be the man to come in. He would represent a decent aquisition in my eyes, although there’s still that lack of Premiership experience.
Speaking of which, we’re also linked with Kevin Kilbane. Very old, definitely passed his best but could be decent cover in a variety of positions and has certainly clocked up the Premiership years.
Blackburn are in for a loan deal for Ben Arthur from France, this would be what I would be looking for, one big quality signing (Adam Johnson, Victor Moses) and a couple of high end loan deals (Bently from spurs, Beatie from Stoke)
I am a Kris Commens fan, and was screaming for him in a Wolves shirt pre season, but he has just dissappeard from the CCC, perfectly anonymous this season so not sure about that one.
Stoke & Hull are both linked with old horse face Van Nistelroy…………..Stoke & Hull are both ambitious enough to go for a marquee name on a short term deal……why aren’t we??????
Jamaine Beckford…NO THANKS.
I realise i just discribed Beatie from Stoke as “high end”…………..I apologise.
Like the sound of the players mentioned so far !! Commons & johnson would both be welcome in my eyes, we already have 1 proven winger in Jarvis & Kites will be back in a couple of weeks. Just imagine how much havoc any 2 from those 4 would cause for Doyle,SEB,Lumo,Vokes,Hoff to prosper from. At the back Kilgallon sounds good too
I like Mancienne in the middle with Foley too. Things are at last looking good for us.Keep up the good work Mick
am i right in thinking that as we have two long term loans we cant loan anyone else this season!?
Not heard of that one Sam. Mancienne is a definate stayer, not too sure about Castillo though unless we are stuck with him,that would pave the way for Keano to come home on loan to the end of the season. Is Kris boyd out of range ? Ive heard he could be bought for less than 2 million but dont know if he would come here or how much he would want. Forget Beckford, he may have pace and goals but his attitude would not appeal to MM. Remember eastwood !!!
Pete – we could be linked with Van Nistelrooy too if you want. Its just pure speculation mate. Its something which Hull in particular have done ever since that orange faced cunt was in charge. Name a player who is available for transfer and say you are interested to make you look like a big club with big ambitions!! Wake up, your Hull and your shit, and your manager is a tosser and you’ve got fuck all chance of landing anyone decent so stop doing it. Wankers!!
Sam – we have got 2 season long loans but only 1 is from another premiership team. Apparently you can have 2 players on loan from premiership teams and 2 from foreign teams.
Some people were debating this on 606 the other day.
Another thing, I’m sure Emerald Pete will have something to say about Kris Boyd but I was watching the Celtic Rangers game on Sunday and he was anonymous. A very knowledgable Celtic supported told me that he’s only ever scored 1 goal against Celtic, he does well against the poor teams that make up the rest of the Scottish League but can’t cope against the big boys. Doesn’t sound like a premiership player to me.
thanks for clearing that up nick, wasnt too sure about the specific rules.
ok then wolves, i give you permission to loan away!
Nick believe it or not Henrik Larsson has scored more goals AGAINST Celtic than Kris Boyd has. He’s the ultimate flat-track bully but very, very good at it. We wouldn’t be able to sign him anyway, he’s after big money. I think a winger will be the most important signing to make followed by a CB. We don’t need another striker, they need better service.
Kwolf, totally agree. Doyle & SEB will score goals for us to keep us up and a winger is my priority but i would pay Keano BIG wages 4 the rest of this season to guarantee survival. Dont forget he plays with Doyle 4 his country so they know each other. Long shot i know but dont rule it out !!
Yeah Boyd would be a none starter in my opinion, I know he just broke Larsson’s scoring record in the SPL, but it took more than a hundered game to score two more goals than Larson, let Brum have him.
Fair Point Ed about placing yourself next to big names to try and seem like a big club. MM et al are nothing if not realistic with thier targets.
I really do think £5m for Moses would be very good bussines.
Emerald Pete – For the record, it’s Ben Arfa, and to be honest Blackburn can have him. Supremely talented as a dribbler, but his shooting and passing is not that good and he’s childish.
I don’t want Boyd either, from all accounts disruptive and not that good.
Pete…Ben Arthur sounds like a brilliant name for a player. Imagine me and the boy’s replica shirts?!
alright, alright………….leave it out, I spelled a players name wrong.
Knew I should and spelled it fen-et-ic-ally
Beckford just screams “Freddy Eastwood” to me
To be fair to Morgan, Moxey and McCarthy, surely it’s better to say “we’ve only got £3 million” than going around flashing the cash like loadasmoney (another Harry Enfield reference) and ending up paying over the odds for someone?
Anyone know anything about this winger we are being linked with from France?
Watched some footage of him on Youtube and he looks like he can beat defenders with skill and pace.
I’d like to throw in the signing of a new left back for when Ward is injured. Big George is no where near good enough!
Sam/Nick – Have we not only got one loan left from the prem cuz of mancienne?
I’ve mentioned already about Adam Johnson. Craig Gardner from Villa seems pretty good when i’ve seen him, though it looks like blues might have him as well
As for Kris Boyd, i wouldn’t mind, i think he could be a good player for us. Not sure about Beckford or Moses, whether they could do it in the prem
I just wish we could get someone like Beattie, or Bullard rather than being linked with someone like Kilgallon. Could be another Darren Ward
Rich – I think so yeah, we can’t loan anyone else from Chelsea though. It seems like the rules regarding loans are a bit hazy. There was another thread on 606 about it today and no one knew the rules, one bloke looked up the rules on the FA web site and was still unsure. Some people think you can have 2 from the english leagues and as many as you want from abroad.
A few days ago I just thought you could loan whoever you want. There weren’t these complications when I used to play Sensible World of Soccer, I always had loads of players on loan.
Nick, anyone who finds a way to mention SWOS is a legend.
Good work 🙂 🙂 🙂
Favourite SWOS player Thomas? I’d have to go for Edinilson, at least i think it was that or it was Eddy Neilson and he was Danish instead of Brazilian. Seems so long ago now 🙁 Used to be able to pick him up cheap and his touch/control was immense, the ball literally stuck to him.
George Weah was just immense. Could literally run in a circle around the penalty area for three minutes and fire home a trademark diagonal shot to score.
Andy Cole was also pretty tasty if memory serves.
Let’s stop dreaming. We are not going to get Beckford, Kilgallon, Gardner , Ledley etc… rumour has it we are in talks with Kevin Kilbane. W emake a habit of signing players (I’ll excuse Doyle) that are no better than what we already have. We get 30mill for staying in the PL, and we are trying to do it on a shoestring budget. That sinply won;t work.
Simply wont work? Can we remember this in May.
I think Kilbane would be a decent signing, good bit of experience. We’ve been linked with Jamie O’Hara tonight too who i thought looked good at Spurs
T’om ..in may we were promised signings with PL experience, it never happened, The team are struggling, and, although we have the lofty heights of 15th, are one point from being 2nd bottom. We are trying to stay up with a Championship side in the PL, and, as admirable as it may be, our fight will ultimately result in relegation. The players try their best, but looka t SEB…totally out of his depth at PL level. We sign Friend, Halford, Surman … no better than anyone else we already had, and thats why we struggle. We need to increase the qulaity of teh team, not quantity. I would be selling the 3 afore mentioned plus Hill, Iwelumo , and Jones.Clear the decks, get 3 players with top qaulity and we WILL survibe.I say again, trying to stay up on teh cheap just won;t work.I will gladly eat humble pie in May if I’m wrong. Also, why , with another relegation 6 pointer less than 48 hours away, have we not signed anyone as yet.These are the teams we need to sneal 3 points from. If we keep on fannying around, the new signings (if any) will be lined up against the likes of Liverpool and Manure. The chance for confidence busting defeats will then have a further negative pull on teh teams’ demeanour, and we will have spent good money …too late. Sort it ut now, stopp messing around…survival is their for grabs if we have the ambition graps the nettle
Daz – I for one think that at the minute we are a better than 50% chance to stay up. I also think that attracting these players instantly is not as easy as you seem to imply. When you look at the squad, we have been without a fit Kightly, SEB has taken time to adjust but I think the consensus is that he’s getting better. I also d on’t necessarily think we’ve done it on the cheap. We speculated with
-Zubar (who will come good as a natural successor to Jody Craddock, I’ve watched enough of him in Ligue 1 with the marvels of Setanta),
-Milijas who will be better post Christmas than pre, what with adjusting to having to tackle and track back.
and I think they’ve proven to be good value (I’m up for the fight with this on Zubar).
We signed George Friend from Exeter at the start of last season as one for the future. I’m pretty sure Surman was signed with the same purpose. I have no problem with these signings as it makes good sense to get them now on the cheap.
I agree 100% with Halford, he has not been up to the mark.
As with Iwelume, Hill, Jones – I think we need a squad which is capable of instant promotion should we go down, and I think that these 3 would prove vital to that (especially with some premiership experience).
I do severely hope you munch down on that humble pie in May.
T’om…just a quick point, if we go down, what makes you think we would bounce straight back up. Also, why keep players not good enough for the PL just for this purpose? Surely, if we sign better players this month, and, we still go down, then the increased quality would make it easier to bounce tsraight back
BTW, I’m with you all the way with Zubar, I thought he stood out like a beacon in Perth
Dazza, IF we do go down with these quality player you want to sign, they will not stay with a CCC out fit will they???
I agree about Zubar, but the lads infornt of him at the moment do deserver to be.
At least you’re consistent Dazza – now, Sam… pass me the whisky and painkillers.
One point on tranfers – not many teams will sign a player before the last week of the window. Teams and players will wait to see if they can negotiate a better deal / see if another team comes in for them.
Dazza i do see your point of view but do you really think Mick won’t have tried to get the best players he could of. Yes some of the players haven’t really seemed to enhance the team greatly but we weren’t / arent the most attractive prospect to a lot of players. I read bullys article in teh e&s and he made a good point. Wins against west ham and wigan will greatly improve our position and therefore we become more attractive to potential targets.
I think we can stay up and between 38 – 40 points should just do it.
p.s. dboy – its not quite the time for that yet.
Daz – I’m just saying it doesn’t do any harm to keep them as squad players for the moment. Then IF we do go down they will help in a squad which is “capable” of instant promotion. I know it definitely is not guaranteed.
I know this isn’t the most positive thinking in the world, but it is a possible (Not Definite) outcome and one for which a contingency should be planned. Let’s all hope it doesn’t come to this though.
T’om… I sure hope it doesn’t come to that, because even the better players we have would surely want to leave?
Anyway, here’s to 3 points at West Ham 🙂
I don’t either. I think that the Hills, Iwelumos and Jones’ of this world will show some loyalty and stay. That’s where I was coming from.
Here is to 3 points at West Ham.